Top 10 D.C. sports busts of the decade

After nearly three weeks of your voting on the local athlete of the decade, here's my list. And yeah, I'm closing with busts, because in some sense this decade of D.C. sports was defined by the bust, which affected every major team. Indeed, the decade could be largely described as one large, grotesque, bulbous, bust.

Some people have suggested that Dan Snyder and/or Vinny Cerrato should have made this list, but that misses the point of the bust. The bust is hope unrealized, promise unfulfilled, expectations unmet, dreams crushed, optimism vanquished, purity defiled. If you harbored hope, promise, expectations, dreams, optimism and purity concerning Vinny Cerrato, I can't be of help to you. On the rest of these, though, I understand.

10. The 2009 Washington Wizards (Reader rank: 11*): And really, they should probably be higher. For three years, we've heard about how they were first in the East when everyone was healthy. For three years, we've heard about how the Big Three just wants to make one championship run. This year's team, with Flip Saunders and new complimentary pieces and a healthy Gilbert Arenas, was widely picked as the East's fourth-best team. Instead, there's been infighting, bad defense, close losses, and a 10-20 record. That's worse than the Nats' winning percentage.

9. D.C. United stadium talk (10): There have been so many promises made and not fulfilled that it's hard to single out just one. Actually, no, it's not.

"It is great to see over 20,000 fans here at RFK supporting D.C. United," candidate Adrian Fenty said in October of 2006. "It is my hope that your fans will soon be coming to your brand new soccer stadium at Poplar Point in Anacostia. World class fans, and a world class team like D.C. United, deserve a world class stadium. And I am going to make it a priority to help you build that stadium."

D.C. United are still vagabonds in a dump of a stadium, and the lack of a proper facility has held back the team's growth and could still lead to the departure of the one D.C. team with "D.C." in its name and the city in its blood.

8. Maryland's 2002 recruiting class (20): If the Terps' national title was one of the top moments of the decade, their fall was equally notable. Nik Caner-Medley, John Gilchrist Chris McCray and Travis Garrison were supposed to keep the program at an elite level; Garrison was an all-American, McCray was an All-Met. Instead, that quartet went to the Sweet 16 as freshmen, the NCAA second round as sophomores and the NIT as juniors.

7. Austin Kearns (18): Nice guy. Really, really nice guy. Still, when he signed a three-year contract for a guaranteed $17.5 million, the expectation wasn't that his batting average would go from .266 to .217 to .195, or that his OPS would go from .765 to .627 to .641., or that his HR total would go from 16 to 7 to 3.

"We expect this to be built for long-term success, and that's going to require investment in long-term building blocks, which we are eager to do," Stan Kasten said at the time of Kearns's contract.

6. Adam Archuleta and Brandon Lloyd (6/7): Not nearly as famous as other Skins' acquisitions, but boy, did they stink here. Archuleta was made the highest-paid safety in league history, then didn't play and was ignored by his coaches.

"It's humiliating," Archuleta said. "I feel humiliated. I feel like I've had my reputation dragged through the mud, with no explanation why."

Lloyd--who was introduced at Redskins Park on the same day as Archuleta and Antwaan Randle El--ended his Skins tenure with 25 catches in 23 games. He cost third- and fourth-round draft picks, but missed meetings, clashed with coaches, was suspended for throwing his helmet, and was generally a disaster.

5. Michael Jordan the executive (4): He joined the franchise nearly a decade ago, in the midst of a 29-win season. Here's The Post's staff editorial when he came to D.C.

What is expected of Mr. Jordan is beyond the capabilities of all three branches of government: to revivify a listless basketball team, speed the city's downtown renaissance and help bring people together throughout the region, while also serving as Greater Washington's role model and social star. Whether all this can be accomplished by someone who's commuting between Washington and Chicago is questionable, but for now this city--which has an unquenchable thirst for celebrity of the kind that isn't achieved by prating from behind a podium for the C-SPAN cameras--can enjoy pondering the possibilities.

In his tenure, the team hired Leonard Hamilton and Doug Collins, drafted Kwame Brown and Jared Jeffries, traded for Christian Laettner and Courtney Alexander, and won 19 games, 37 games, and 37 games. Two years after Jordan's ouster, the Ernie Grunfeld-led Wiz were in the second round of the playoffs.

4. Steve Spurrier (2): As Brian Murphy recently noted, Jim Zorn and Steve Spurrier will likely end their tenures with identical 12-20 marks, but Zorn was hired as an afterthought while Spurrier made a major splash.

"He is the head coach of the Redskins for five years, at a minimum," Daniel Snyder said after hiring the ball coach. "I've staked my credibility -- along with his -- together. I hope we have a successful season. I think and pray that we will. But if we don't, I will stand by Coach Spurrier for however long it takes because he will get it right. He's a winner."

Yeah, well. Canceled practices, funny faces, embarrassing blowouts, losing seasons, trips to the golf course, and then it all ended in shame. Yucky.

(I'll be honest, I thought it might work. I'll never forget Post assistant editor Gene Wang ridiculing me for that belief the night Spurrier was hired, and assuring me it would be a farce.)

3. Redskins 2000 free-agent class (5): From The Post: "Former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders's decision to sign with the Washington Redskins this week--barring a last-minute hitch--is the final piece to a puzzle the Redskins' ownership team agrees will get them to the Super Bowl." Sanders, Bruce Smith, Mark Carrier and Jeff George got signing bonuses of $17.25 million, and the $100 million payroll was the highest in NFL history.

"This team's goal is to win a championship," George said during training camp. "That's why we're here. It's realistic with the people we have on this team. Anything less would be a disappointment."

That team went 8-8 and got Norv Turner fired; none of the free agents ever saw a winning season in D.C.

2. Jaromir Jagr (3): He had won four straight scoring titles before the Caps acquired him and had been first- or second-team all-NHL for seven straight seasons. He had also averaged more than 1.3 points per game in his career to that point.

"We just needed that little extra. That's why we couldn't get by Pittsburgh [in the first round] this year -- we didn't have that extra bit of talent to break through in certain key games," Olie Kolzig said at the time. "This is the guy to do it."

Jagr--who got a $77 million extension in D.C.--averaged 1.1 points per game with the Caps, but was traded after two-and-a-half seasons. He led the Caps to one playoff appearance, a first-round knockout. "It didn't work the way everybody expected it was going to work," Jagr told Jason La Canfora on his way out. Plus, countless fans were stuck with his ugly jersey, which you really can't wear in public.

1. Kwame Brown (1): Before Kwame, the Wizards had never drafted higher than fourth since the inception of the lottery. He was the first high schooler taken No. 1, and the first high schooler to play for the Wizards. "We don't know what this kid is capable of doing, that's the beauty of why we drafted him," Michael Jordan said, in one of the all-time best quotes. "We don't know. In a couple of years he may be a star."

In four seasons with the Wiz, Brown averaged 7.7 points and 5.5 rebounds over 22.7 minutes a game. "Someone has a full career ahead of them and you're already calling him a bust?" Brown told Michael Lee on his way out of town. "Most of the people who write that never picked up a basketball in their life. I still have a full career ahead of me."

(The top picks from the drafts before and after this one, by the way, were Kenyon Martin and Yao Ming.)

DC United had back-to-back seasons atop the league standings in '06 & '07, but blew it up to build a playoff winner. Gallardo was the center of that - literally and figuratively - and by far the team's biggest ever salary commitment.

I say make em take that Abe logo off of their uniforms. Abe tried his best to make this a great team even to the point of paying the luxury tax. The way these dudes are playing, they do Mr. Pollin a disrespect by wearing his name on their uniforms. Until, they can play like they are playing to honor Mr. Pollin, they should not be allowed to wear his name! The same thing every game. Watch the beginning they are slightly ahead, come back at the half the score is tied or they are up by one point. Come back at the end of the the third and the other team is ahead by 10 or more. Come back six minutes from the ending they make a run. Now fast forward to the last 2 or 3 minutes and they manage to give the game away with turnovers, no defense and stupid mistake. Love the Wiz, but right now, what a bunch of losers.

I say make em take that Abe logo off of their uniforms. Abe tried his best to make this a great team even to the point of paying the luxury tax. The way these dudes are playing, they do Mr. Pollin a disrespect by wearing his name on their uniforms. Until, they can play like they are playing to honor Mr. Pollin, they should not be allowed to wear his name! The same thing every game. Watch the beginning they are slightly ahead, come back at the half the score is tied or they are up by one point. Come back at the end of the the third and the other team is ahead by 10 or more. Come back six minutes from the ending they make a run. Now fast forward to the last 2 or 3 minutes and they manage to give the game away with turnovers, no defense and stupid mistake. Love the Wiz, but right now, what a bunch of losers.

The way the 2002 Terps class each flamed out in their own way was utterly spectacular - an ego-driven mental collapse that ruined an entire season, groping women in bars, being thrown off the team for academic issues, and dreadfully inconsistent play. But at least Nik gave us a good school catchphrase.

Not talking about his desire to draft Desmond Howard, which he did + threw in multiple picks to acquire a kick returner that didn't even do that well in DC (rather well in Green Bay).

I'm talking about the Gibbs who handpicked Archuleta and Brandon Lloyd (see the photo above)...

Randle-El (when the Steelers then replaced him with 2009 Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes as Gibbs could have instead drafted)...

Landry that can hit but covers like Paul Krauss could today at about 63 yrs old...

Jason Campbell where Gibbs even added 3 picks to move up to get him...

Portis who Gibbs traded a future Hall of Fame CB AND a #1 pick for (who trades a future hall of famer AND a #1 pick for? Has this EVER been done in history?)...

Susiam the kicker, another great Gibbs find...

Mark Brunell, who threw a couple of late TD's to break a 13 straight Dallas head to head streak, but wht else?...

No one around here ever blames St Joe for anything. He was a great coach (in the 1980's), but the afore-mentioned moved easily should had him in everyones top 10 list too. So I'll add him at #11.

Lastly, Gibbs the coach this decade is #12. Playoffs? Playoffs? Playoffs? Jim Mora said. No one outside of DC even remembers that Gibbs made the playoffs twice this decade. They remember that he failed coming back with a 1982 playbook that lost more games than he won.

Signed
Just the Facts

Cause OPINIONS are coming.
What's above is not an opinion.
They are hard core facts of who he selected while here this decade (that Zorn had to coach; and Vinny gets blamed for).

That's because there are no trophies from the 1930's and 1940's. When there were about 8 teams and all players looked alike - if you know what I mean. No, those of us living now do not recall those days. If so, Cleveland and Philly won titles too.

steinz-
thanks for choosing my choice for #1- kwame is on his 4th team in 4 years and each one has had him a DNP or a full 5 minutes as backup center, 2-4 pts. And I stress (again) it wasnt just a lack of talent but the original "million dollar body and a 10-cent brain." Remember how he'd whine about "I didnt ask to be drafted #1." Pathetic baby loser- at least the Zards got caron for him.

Dude, I see pre-SB highlights on TV plenty. A steelers fan would not as the Steelers were terrible pre-SB. But any real fan of a team that has pre-SB history knows about their teams pre-SB history.

1958 Giants vs the Colts The Greatest Game Ever Played, and if it had never happened the NFL may not be around today, ever seen a clip? If you have never seen a clip of slings sammy then you may as well turn in your man card in this town.

And your "proof" is a half baked attempt at a point that does not even make sense, pre-game clips and news (???) really, thats your proof, your proof is what a bunch of bobble-heads are putting on TV to appeal to the lowest common denominator.

The pre-merger history is valid if not vital to the discussion of all franchise history.

In the pre-Lombardi trophy era, there were 8-10 teams. The Redskins in that era won titles, then lost between 1945 and 1970. In the current era, they have 3 Lombardi trophies (the ones Dan rolls out and acknowledges).

since Dallas and Minnesota came aboard in 1960, Dallas has been far more succesful than the Skins. More Lombardi trophies, more Super Bowl Sunday's, more wins overall, more head to head wins by about 21 games (60-39-2).

Washington has won the 2 playoff head to head games, one be4 losing the 1973 Super Bowl - a game and season most rememebered for who won that game than who beat Dallas. And Dallas has beaten Washington in games that turned out to be playoff games that were not, cause they caused Washington to miss the playoffs that season. Think Roger's comeback in 1979, and Clint Longley 1974. So go talk to someone born in 1900 about who won titles in the 1930's. Today's count is based on Lombardi trophies and why Dan ONLY BRINGS THOSE OUT for his annual offseason title spree.

alex, get a hold of yourself, man! What are you arguing for or against?

Are you actually supporting Dan Snyder's perpetual flouting (and borderline fetishization) of the three Lombardi trophies which the franchise won before he became its owner?

The right move upon this next coaching staff upheaval would be to remove those trophies from Redskin Park, along with every vestige of glories past, and let everybody know we're starting from scratch... as part of a general message of accountability. Starting with Dan Snyder.

No more tiresome hand-wringing about the glorious past of the franchise and how the fan base deserves better... just be better, damn it!

alex, I figured that's what you meant, but the original point that started this was about how Snyder (and Snyder alone among the 32 NFL owners) seems prone to displaying the franchise's Lombardis with a frequency that is puzzling if not downright unseemly. Not about how many NFL championships the team won in its long history before Snyder's ownership.

NateinthePDX
So true
The funniest and saddest thing about seeing the 3 Lombardi trophies that Dan will display as he signs Marvin Harrison and Ken Stabler next summer is.....

He didn't earn them

Then again, within our lifetimes, the Skins only have one championship era (Gibbs I), thus hold on the the Hoggettes and the players of that era (now a while ago) talk and talk locally. Cause there's nothing else to talk about in OUR lifetime.

George Allen?
Won nothing (Lombardi trophies)

Lombardi here?
Same

So they're the al Bundy of the NFL.
Still yacking about the ONE era of greatness

Guess can't be Dallas and Pittsbugh and Green Bay. Great in more than more era and decade of Lombardi trophies.

Portis who Gibbs traded a future Hall of Fame CB AND a #1 pick for (who trades a future hall of famer AND a #1 pick for? Has this EVER been done in history?)...

Posted by: kedavis

FYI, it was a 2nd rder, not a #1.

But don't forget the trade for TJ Duckett -- a 3rd rd pick! That one was special.

And that they traded a 3rd rd'er for Brunell. But hey, the guy did save Gibbs' life!

The Skins traded Coles back to the Jets to get Moss, which on the face of it was fine, except for the cap hit they took because they had signed Coles to a big contract.

They signed RFA Chad Morton from the Jets, requiring them to give up a 5th rder.

All under Gibbs. Great man, great person, great leader, not-so-great on the GM side. There were some plusses like Sean Taylor, Fletcher, Cooley and McIntosh, plus guys like Golston, Doughty and Montgomery, but too few and too far in between.

MJ's overall tenure as GM might have to be #1. Kwame, obviously. Though to be fair, lots of teams missed in that draft. Leonard Hamilton. Trading Rip for Stackhouse. But you do have to give him props for finding a taker for Jumaji's $100 mil contract. MJ's best move might have been signing himself.

Gibbs was one hell of a great coach. One of the best ever. And I say that as a non-Skins fan. He was a great coach... in the 1980's through 1992.

But Gibbs would actually trade for TJ Duckett, who would have been cut in 2 days. Traded a pick to get Portis when Jimmy Johnson would have gotten Portis and 6 picks from Denver for Champ (see H. Walker 1989 deal), traded up and 3 picks to get Jason, traded up to get Desmond, and probably traded 3 picks to get Suisham the kicker. As I said, Bust #11 Joe Gibbs.

DC has been the WORST sports city in America this decade for having the four major sport franchises...throw in DC United and its a perfect pentrifica of mediocrity and losing.
Its pretty clear in the next decade that there is no hope for at least 3 of the franchises (NBA, NFL and MLB). Other cities complain about not winning enough championships, DC has to complain about what is the top ten of its biggest failures. Awesome!

How can Ted Lerner not be on this list? Baseball returned to DC to packed crowds and now they struggle to get their new park half full. A strategy of maximizing profits by keeping payroll at $60 million while raking in well over $100 million in revenue sharing and MASN money is a spit in the face of the fans and the Washington business community that paid the extra taxes to build their stadium.